[Other] New, Better Mapping Utilities

[Deleunes254]

So I recently got into Rom hacking (First with Rpg maker XP and pokemon essentials.) I love Rpg maker's GUI and mapping system, but i quickly figured out that it's not really rom "hacking" but making your own game from scratch. I didn't really want this.
So apparently Advanced Map 1.95 was THE tool for mapping 3rd gen games. (My goal is to make a game with completely new storyline and maps) But I hate the interface (less easy to work with than RpgmakerXP) and it's hard to import tilesets. (with pallete thingies and shit)
So there was also MEH, another tool which seemed promissing but development had been stopped.
Now my question is, are there new, better mapping tools that import tilesets (that you easy download from deviantart) in an easy way and is easy to use?
Thanks in advance (and sorry if I made some grammar mistakes, not native speaker) :)

 

[DJTiki]

So apparently Advanced Map 1.95 was THE tool for mapping 3rd gen games.

No. Don't use A.Map 1.95, if you use it incorrectly, then you can easily corrupt your ROM. A.Map 1.92 will do plenty. Trust me and every other hacker on this.

Now my question is, are there new, better mapping tools that import tilesets (that you easy download from deviantart) in an easy way and is easy to use?

No. Or at least, not right now. The thing about tile insertion in ROM Hacking is that you only have a limited number of blocks and palettes to use. Since we are working on the GBA system, you are limited to 16 Colors. Since it's a matter of limitations by the system and not what the game programs, as far as I know about the system, there is no workaround for this.

Color: 15-bit RGB (16-bit color space using 5 bits depth per channel), capable of displaying 512 simultaneous colors in "character mode" and 32,768 (215) simultaneous colors in "bitmap mode".

If you're talking about simply having easier insertion methods, most likely there will be a tool like that in the future. But tiles on deviantart would have to be formatted to fit the requirements of the GBA, if you want it to be "Get the picture > Insert in game"

Even then, just use TileHelperAdvance for your tiles.

 

[Joexv]

No. Don't use A.Map 1.95, if you use it incorrectly, then you can easily corrupt your ROM. A.Map 1.92 will do plenty. Trust me and every other hacker on this.

1.92 can fuck up your ROM just as much as 1.95 if used incorrectly.


Anyways you can always try bluespider.
Im oretty sure thats still in development.

 

[chrunch]

1.92 can fuck up your ROM just as much as 1.95 if used incorrectly.


Anyways you can always try bluespider.
Im oretty sure thats still in development.

Really any tool could do that if you're stupid enough with it. Doesn't mean the tool itself is bad.

 

[Deleunes254]

Alright, thank you all for helping! I'll just try to work with Advancemap 1.92 (and check out bluespider). I know of it's colour limitations but still it's a mess to work with tilesets in my opinion :/ But its still a very nice tool of course ;)

Hopefully newer tools will be published in the future. Both for GEn III and maybe some tools that'll make gen IV/V easier to hack :)